NEW DELHI – A minister of the ruling party in India, Bhartiya Jantya Party (BJP), Swami Prasad Maurya, severely criticised an MP of his party for questioning the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for displaying a photograph of Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the institute.
According to Times of India, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister called Quaid-e-Azam a ‘mahapurush’ (great leader), saying he contributed to India before the formation of Pakistan. He added that it is a shame for anyone to point fingers at great leaders who have contributed towards the formation of the country.
Gautam, in a letter written by Gautam to the AMU vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor, had sought an explanation for placing the picture of Jinnah in the institute.
He further said that there was no reason to display the picture in any Indian institute after Partition, adding that there was no justification for having the picture of Jinnah in the university.
Meanwhile, the portrait of Jinnah went missing from the institute two days after Gautam threatened the varsity’s VC, triggering protests in the city.
The students of AMU took to the streets demanding why the portrait had gone missing. As the protest turned violent, police resorted to use tear gas shells to disperse the students.
On the other hand, the Congress has started putting pressure on the ruling BJP after Swami Prasad Maurya praised the founder of Pakistan as great leader.
